If one were to look at funding girls as a means to accelerate development as a line graph, the inflection point could be pinned to 2009 when the Nike Foundation, among others, produced their Girl Effect film. This viral video is credited with inspiring action across the private, public and non-profit sectors to empower girls.

Philanthropy is greatly rewarding and can be a lot of fun. But how do you turn good intentions into a lasting change?

What Donors Want — a podcast by I.G. Advisors — offers a behind-the-scenes view into major gifts fundraising from the donor’s perspective.

I.G. is proud to announce the release today of our first edition of I.G. Insights: The State of Funding for Girls. Over the past 10 months, we have research and reviewed organisations and individuals investing in girls and the NGOs that focus on them. We found four examples of what we think are inspiring practice and partnerships.

For philanthropists wanting to tackle human rights issues, there is an often-glaring omission in their giving portfolios. People can sometimes forget a vital part of ensuring violence and violations are stopped: caring for people who have already had their rights abused.

As millennials begin entering the workforce, there’s been much more demand for their employers to give back to the community and causes that are important to them. More people in today’s world realize the impact that they have on the world and they’re voting for sustainable and ethical products with their dollars.

Carlos Miranda swears he’s not a serial entrepreneur despite founding three companies. Carlos’s companies, I.G. Advisors, Social Misfits Media, and Lightful, came from a necessity to serve a deeply underserved industry.

Amidst the rat-a-tat machine gun speed of executive orders coming from the newly minted Trump administration was the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule — and for those of us working with women and girls, this was one of the most disheartening.

My worst client experience ever was many, many years ago, when I was a green consultant fresh out of graduate school and desperate to do a great job.

When I am advising non-profits, I tell them that effective fundraising is part art, part science. You need structure and planning to support it, but you also need instinct and charisma to make it a success. Both sides are essential.

I.G.’s sister company, Social Misfits Media, works to demonstrate how powerful social media can be in building such relationships, and empowers charities to use it effectively.

It’s easy to see how the corporate foundation has gone out of fashion. In many ways it seems a relic, conjuring up an image of corporate fat cats smoking cigars and deciding the best way to avoid paying their taxes. Many question the role a corporate foundation can play in this new world.